In 1910, even before the plans for the hotel were off the drawing board, a major change in the hotel's destiny was made. The San Francisco City Hall, undergoing major reconstruction after the `06 quake, made a temporary home for the city's offices a necessity.
When it became known that a hotel was being planned practically in the Civic Center, an idea was born.
The architects for the hotel made a few important changes to the plans and when completed, the future hotel building served as the San Francisco City Hall from 1912 until 1915. The Hotel Whitcomb did not officially opened for business as a hotel until 1916.
The jail cells from those days are still in the hotel basement and the words City Hall could still be seen above the hotel entrance until the mid-90s.

This undated photo of the main entrance to the Hotel Whitcomb appears to have been taken in the very early days of its existance.

This 1928 photo shows the hotel as it looked before changes were made to the roof garden and the adjoining store fronts to the north.

The above photo is of the Hotel Whitcomb in 1940.
Not quite in the same league with the St.Francis, Mark Hopkings or Fairmont hotels, the Whitcomb was, none the less, a first class establishment and a popular destination for dining and dancing during the 40s, 50s and into the 60s.
In 1967, however, the Hotel Whitcomb became the San Franciscan Hotel and remained under that name for the next 25 years. Its very popular Roof Garden, as it was known, can be seen atop the hotel at the front.

In 1992, the San Franciscan Hotel changed hands becoming The Ramada Plaza Hotel.
Although it has undergone some changes and expansion, the most noticeable change to the front of the buillding is the absence of the balconies. An annex was added to the rear of the hotel as well, but is not visable from the front. Photo taken 2/12/01.

mibgda-2day@sfchangehappens-books.com